Meath needs Walk of Fame to honour home-grown success
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Maureen O’Hara with Quiet Man co-star, John Wayne and (left), Navan’s own Pierce Brosnan pictured at Andy Brennan Park close to his childhood home. PHOTO: SEAMUS FARRELLY.Image 2 of 3
The Moore Brothers, Matt, Owen and Tom from Fordstown, in the 1929 film, Side Street.Image 3 of 3
Navan’s own Pierce Brosnan pictured at Andy Brennan Park close to his childhood home. PHOTO: SEAMUS FARRELLY.A CALL for a Hollywood Boulevard-style Walk of Fame to mirror Tinseltown’s commemorative stretch has been proposed for Co Meath.
Fianna Fail Cllr Mike Bray proposed the move at this week’s Meath Co Council meeting, saying that it would help commemorate the five Hollywood stars from Meath whose names are on the famous Los Angeles boulevard.
Meath is able to claim five of the 13 movie stars recognised on the American version – Maureen O’Hara whose father hailed from Kells, Pierce Brosnan who was born in Navan, and the Moore brothers (Matt, Tom and Owen) who came from the village of Fordstown.
“In Co Meath we are in a unique position as five of the thirteen people who have stars in Hollywood are from Meath families,” Cllr Bray told councillors.
“I feel we need to recognise and celebrate the fame and achievements of these five children of Meath. I am from Fordstown and I am very proud of the three Moore brothers who left Ireland in the 1880s and went on to star in over 600 movies between them. However, outside of Fordstown most people do not know a lot about these famous local stars.
“In Kells the town council recognised Maureen O’Hara in 2005 when she was made a Freewoman of Kells and a beautiful bust of her now holds pride of place in Bective Square”.
The Fordstown councillor said there was a tourism potential for Meath in having a Walk of Fame. He said the film industry was growing in this country and thousands of people travelled to Ireland every year to see Skellig Michael following the making of the Star Wars film and Trim got visitors because of the making of the Braveheart film there.
“A movie landmark like this would be an attraction for movie tourists. My motion at the council meeting also suggested the Meath Walk of Fame which could include other Meath people from the performing and creative arts. We have loads of other stars in music, comedy, and the arts who would also have a claim to be included and celebrated.”
Cllr Bray said he was delighted that the council is to refer his motion to the council’s commemorative committee for further consideration.